Currently, the market for electric inflators for SUP boards is crowded, selecting the ideal one for our specific need can be difficult, there are so many different models, brands, and prices that making a decision is practically impossible.
To avoid that big headache of making a choice among so many options, here is a small list of the best 5 options for electric Paddle Surf inflators.
1. AKASO 12V AC/DC Cordless Air Pump
The AKASO 12V AC/DC is also a high-quality cordless electric SUP air pump that can be carried easily. As AKASO is a very well-known brand in the Stand Up Paddleboard market, they know exactly how to inflate and what is needed.
It comes with a complete kit of tips, which can be used not only to inflate your paddle up to 35L/min with 100 PSI but also your "inflatable dock or island", your deckchair, air mattress, among others.
You can't fail to appreciate its sleek design and clear digital pressure gauge, which you can display in PSI, kPa, BAR, or kg/cm², and has built-in LED light, digital LCD screen. The pump is connected to the DC 12V connector of your car thanks to the very secure 12A fuse.
2. iROCKER 12 V Electric Pump
If you are looking for a slightly affordable electric paddle pump, you can go for the iROCKER 12 V. You might recognize the iROCKER brand for its superb quality product.
iROCKER not only produces great paddles, but they also did a great job with this iROCKER 12 V electric paddle pump. The iROCKER electric pump is very compact and lightweight.
The iROCKER 12 V pump has an easy, ergonomic carry handle so you can carry it with you and keep it in place. Just choose the desired pressure and wait while the board inflates as it stops automatically on your desired pressure. Stretch out a bit while you wait until you're at least warmed up to paddle a bit!
3. OutdoorMaster 20PSI High-Pressure SUP Air Pump
The OutdoorMaster 20PSI electric pump is my favorite electric pump: it's really small and easy to transport thanks to its weight. This is an improved version with an active cooling system of the OutdoorMaster Shark pump that has received thousands of positive reviews.
This smart electric pump has a full set of nozzles which include C7 & H3 valves as well. The pump can inflate several paddles one after the other without overheating.
OutdoorMaster 20PSI Electric Inflator will allow you to inflate and deflate your paddle surf effortlessly. It connects to the car’s 12V DC connector. In addition, the pump has a compact and reduced design to transport it wherever you want. Very easy to use, since you can set the PSI before starting to use it and the pump will stop automatically when it reaches the set PSI.
4. THURSO SURF SUP Electric Pump
The THURSO SURF SUP electric pump is also very good quality and easy to transport electric paddle pump. The THURSO SURF brand being a very well-known paddle brand, they know exactly what it takes to inflate them.
It inflates the paddleboard to 15 PSI in less than 10 minutes. It also deflates your paddleboard after your trip. Another thing I forgot to mention, it is powered from a car cigarette lighter socket’s 12V DC connector.
THURSO SURF SUP electric pump is equipped with a carry bag to easily carry and transport. You can also set the desired pressure and let the pump do the rest. Stretch while waiting to warm up at least a bit before you paddle!
5. Ventus Paddle Board Electric Pump
Ventus paddleboard electric pump is equipped with a cigarette lighter plug, an accessory that makes it possible to connect quickly and practically to the battery. This is equipped with more robust and reliable "alligator clips" to be clamped directly on the battery poles.
Ventus paddleboard electric pump also has a secure locking feature for secure valve connection. The Ventus paddle pump inflates up to 20 PSI and you can set the pressure using the auto-shutoff stops and the pump will inflate to the preset pressure, so you don't have to worry about an over-inflated paddleboard.
How to Choose an Electric Pump for Inflatable Paddle Boards
Inflatable SUPs are extremely popular. However, the principle of inflatables only makes sense if you have a SUP pump with you that works reliably and is easy to transport.
At the same time, the pump must be powerful enough to be able to inflate the inflatable SUP board quickly and without too much effort.
An electric SUP pump offers many advantages. If you have decided to dedicate yourself to Stand Up Paddle with an inflatable SUP, it will surely make you comfortable to understand how to choose the pump to inflate a SUP. To get started, it is important to know the factors for choosing an electric pump for inflatable paddle boards:
• With an electric SUP pump, Make sure it greatly reduces the time it takes to inflate and deflate your board, which translates into an increase in time to paddle and enjoy.
• The vast majority of these inflators come with the necessary cables to be connected to the cigarette lighter of your vehicle or directly to the battery, so make sure you will not have to stumble around looking for where to connect it.
• Make sure of the small size when folded. Let's think about an approximate measurement of 120cm x 50cm x 40cm which facilitates its transport in the trunk of the car or simply checking it as a suitcase when traveling with it (some of the travel bags already come with wheels like a trolley-type suitcase).
• Make sure you won't have to worry about over-inflating or under-inflating your board, with the built-in automatic stop system you just have to set the necessary pressure and the electric inflator for the sup board will do the rest.
• Check that they come with a set of universal nozzles and flexible hoses that will allow you to use them on any model of SUP boards.
How to Inflate SUP Paddle Board?
To inflate the paddle surfboard, first, you must remove the safety cover that the valve brings, then connect the pump, start pumping, and when the necessary pressure is obtained, the pump must be removed and the cover replaced.
Here is the step-by-step procedure to fill in the table correctly:
• First, the board should be unrolled on a flat surface.
• Verify that the valve is closed.
• In order to start sending air from the pump, one end of the hose must be attached to the pump nozzle and the other end to the valve of the paddle surfboard.
• The pump should be placed on a flat and firm surface. Later you must hold it between your feet and start pumping.
• Make sure to apply the force from top to bottom. Although, there are certain pumps called "double-action", which will pump both when the lever is lowered and when it is raised. These pumps are more complex to operate and require greater force but are very useful as they help inflate the board faster.
• On average, the inflation process takes between 10 and 15 minutes, but you can take breaks since the valve will not allow the air to escape from the board.
• When the pressure gauge needle indicates the desired pressure depending on the model, disconnect the hose from the valve.
• Finally, put the safety cap on.
• Once our paddle surfboard is inflated, the fin must be installed at the bottom. To do this, it only needs to be inserted and fixed with its screw.
How long to inflate a paddleboard?
The inflation time of an inflatable SUP depends on the one hand on the inflator we use (the double-chamber ones are faster) and the size and volume of the board. The bigger it is, the longer it will take.
• With an electric inflator: If you have the option of inflating the SUP with an electric inflator, the time will hardly vary, but the effort will. You will only have to program the pressure to which you want your board to inflate and wait for the pump to stop by itself.
• With triple-action manual pump: Manually, on average, it takes between 7 and 12 minutes to inflate a 10'6 ”All Round inflatable SUP.
• With cheap double-action manual pump: Manually with the pumps that include the cheapest SUP packs on the market it takes approximately between 15 and 20 minutes. The paddle surf decathlon pump type is a very simple manual pump that will require a greater effort on your part to complete the process.
Can I leave my paddleboard inflated?
There is no problem keeping the SUP inflated but let out some pressure (ideally the pressure is then around 8 PSI) and the board is lying straight or upright against a wall. Make sure that the SUP board is not twisted or that there is no weight on it, it could become permanently deformed. In general, inflatable boards don't like heat or UV rays so make sure of the following things:
• Not only does heat help increase the board's internal pressure, but it also has a negative effect on the glue that holds the different parts of the SUP together so always keep your inflated SUP in the shade. At best, blisters can form under the board pads, and at worst, heat can even cause the board to explode.
• If the board is exposed to them too often and permanently, UV rays contribute to bleaching the PVC, which largely contributes to the premature aging of the SUP. Furthermore, UV rays can also cause a certain "staining" of the PVC; black spots appear, which owners of plastic patio furniture are all too familiar with.
